All Units

Terms

a policy-making alliance among loosely connected participants that coms together on a particular issue and then disbands

nongovernmental organization (NGO)

A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives

issue advocacy

promoting a position or issue; paid for by interest groups or individuals, not candidates

Twenty Fourth

Amendment that abolished poll tax

executive order

Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; international trade organization ehtat encourages free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions

trustee

legislator who votes independently of constituency based on personal judgement of circumstances

tax expenditures

loss of tax revenue due to laws that provide tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses

Planned Parenthood v. Casey

states may regulate abortion as long as there is "no undue burden" on the mother; did not overturn Roe v. Wade but gave states mroe leeway in regulating abortion (parental consent for minors, 24 hour waiting period)

African Americans

poorer, Democratic, civil rights

rule of four

if four justices say that they are interested in a case then the case will be heard by the Supreme Court; must have four votes to be heard

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions

Fourteenth

Amendment that says people born in US are citizens of the US, citizens living in a state are citizens of that state; states cannot deny people of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, equal protection of laws

immunity

exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to a case

federal mandate

A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds

rule of propinquity

closer to the president, people feel they have more power; EOP more important than cabinet members

president crosses out parts of budget bills that he doesn't like; ruled unconstitutional by Clinton v. NY

federalism

Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments, called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.

limited forums

available for assembly and speech for limited purposes, times, and speakers, provided the distinctions between the people allowed access and thsoe excluded are not biased; eg: other public property such as city hall, schools

Holding incumbents, usually the president's party, responsible for their records on issues, such as the economy or foreign policy.

Bush v. Gore

this case ruled in favor of Bush by saying that recounting the votes in certain counties of Florida was unconstitutional because of equal protection of the law; Gore's wish to make the process as simple and painless as possible backfired

litigants

those who file lawsuits (defended by prosecutors) in a civil suit

majority opinion

an explanation of a decision made by an appellate court; includes the facts issues and reasoning of the decision; it may ask Congress to act on something; needs at least 5 judges to sign

strict interpretation of the Constitution giving power to state legislatures (less likely to use a writ of certiorari); believe in the 10th amendment; don't want to hear cases unless there is a Cosntitutional issue; interpret based on the framer's intent

Council of Economic Advisers

advises the President on the state of the economy

open primary

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

statism

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation

due process

established rules and regulations that restrain those in government who exercise power

Rehnquist Court

the conservative justice who was on the Burger Court that became chief justice; as chief justice he led a conservative revolution that left power up to the states over Congress; ruled on Bush v. Gore

criminal law

a law that defines crimes against the public order; comes from criminal laws passed by federal and state governments

justiciable dispute

a dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy that is capable of settlement by legal methods

issue advocacy

Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against," although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.

internal political efficacy

the belief that an understanding of government enables one to participate

Congressional power over Bureaucracy

Oversight, appropriations, investigations, sunset laws

wedge issues

Issues that motivate particular segments of the electorate to vote and on which the opposing candidate or party has a less popular position.

European model of party government: officeholders are expected to act according to party wishes and to vote along party lines.

527 organization

A political group organized under section 527 of the IRS Code that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities so long as they are not spent on broadcast ads run in the last 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election in which a clearly identified candidate is referred to and a relevant electorate is targeted.

Dickerson v. US (2000)

court upheld the miranda decision; struck down a congressional act allowing voluntary confessions to be accepted before their miranda rights had been read

Senate majority leader

true leader in senate, recognized first for debates, true leader of majority party

Griswold v. Connecticut

married couple wanted to get contraceptives; struck down a Connecticut law prohibiting the sale of contraceptives; established the right of privacy through the 4th and 9th amendment

standing committee

permanen committee established in a legislature; focuses on a specific policy area

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

an independent regulatory commission that licenses and regulates broadcasting stations; it may regulate content

Bakke case

student wanted to be admitted into Davis Medical Program; strict quotas were unconstitutional but race is allowed as a factor in admission decisions as long as it is not the only one; affirmative action is constitutional;

who is biased in media

journalists- more liberal; editors/owners- conservative

political socialization

The process -- most notably in families and schools -- by which we develop our political attributes, values, and beliefs.

writ authorized by a magistrate that authorities the police to search a particular place or person, specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized; police must have probable cause to justify it

civil disobedience

deliberate refusal to obey a law or comply with the orders of public officials as a means of expressing opposition

Baron de Montesquieu

man who influenced the Founders to include a set of checks and balances in the Constitution

generational effects

when a particular generation has had certain experiences, their experiences make them politically extinct

ex. of environmental policy

superfund, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act,

Federal Reserve Board

establishes banking practices and regulates currency in circulation as well as the amount of credit available

House Rules Committee

most important House Committee, decides calendar of bill hearings, grants rules to bills

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

provides $3.9 billion in federal funds to modernize American voting procedures and mandates that states maintain accurate statewide voter registration lists; also permits voters to cast provisional ballots if there is uncertainty about their registration.

types of interest groups

economic, single issue, public interest, foreign policy, public sector,

off-year elections

Elections held in odd-numbered calendar years.

pocket veto

if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days of congress adjourning then the bill is killed and is not sent back to congress

bully pulpit

president able to use media and influence to get programs passed

police powers

inherent powers of state governments to pass laws protecting public health, safety, and welfare of residents

voter registration

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents

writ of habeas corpus

"produce the body," must produce all prisoners in court and explain why they are being held; Hamdan v. Rumsfield

plea bargain

agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense

representative democracy (republic)

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws

bill of attainder

legislative acts inflicting punishment to individuals or a group of individuals without a trial

Federalist No. 51

written by James Madison; separation of powers; "you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

SSI

Supplemental Security Income; monthly payments to disabled people over 65 who can prove their income

electoral college

the indirect way of selecting a president set up by the framers

monetary policy

manages the economy by controlling the money supply (federal board of reserves)

proportional representation

political parties secure legislative seats and power in proportion to the number of votes received in the election

Burger Court

a conservative jurist appointed by Nixon that nonetheless continued the judicial activism of the Warren Court as seen by Roe v. Wade; this was due to the other members of the court rather than his own liberal beliefs

economic sanctions

denial of import or export of goods with a target country; only works if multilateral

public defender system

arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys; Gideon v. Wainwright

referendum

Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution

segregation imposed by law; integration must be supported by federal government

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

Slaughter House Cases

distinguished between the privileges of US citizens and those of state citizens; the only privileges of national citizenship are those owed to the existence of the Federal Government, its National Character, its Constitution, or its laws; eg: reight to use navigable water of the US, protection on the high seas, assemple peacefully, petition for redress of grievances, right to vote if qualified to do so under state laws, travel through out US

AFDC

Aid to Families with Dependent Children; states matched federal funds, created a means testl congress set time limits on public assistance

writ of mandamus

Court order directing an official to perform an official duty

preferred position doctrine

freedom of expression should rarely if ever be limited; the freedom of speech is so essential to democracy that governments should only punish people for what they do not what they say

Head Start

preschool programs for poor students

soft money

Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts

interest group pluralism

Competition among open, responsive, and diverse groups help preserve democratic values and limits the concentration of power in any single group.

Muller v. Oregon

stated that there were inherent differences between men and women and that therefore women should not be allowed to work in certain jobs or conditions

independent regulatory commissions

govt. entities that are independent of the president; regulate the economy; ex: SEC, FBR, FCC

petit jury

jury of 6-12 people that determines or innocence in a civil or criminal action

cloture

procedure for terminating debate (stops a filibuster)

Reform party

A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform, fiscal responsibility, and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity.

Mapp v. Ohio

established the exclusionary rule; evidence illegally obtained cannot be used in court; Warren Court's judicial activism

Connecticut Compromise

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators

criteria for laws

general, undiscriminatory; prospectivity for present and future; publicly made known; from legitimate authority; due process

endorsement test

forbids governmental practices that a reasonable observer would view as endorsing religion; championed by Sandra Day O'Connor

A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic influence.

public forums

public places historically associated with the free exercise of expressive activities; streets, side walks, parks; time, place, and manner must be reasonable, cannot be limited because of what is being said

independent expenditure

The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals, groups, and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual, group, or party does so, they are making this.

distribution

Proportion of the population that holds a particular opinion.

president pro tempore

ceremonial head, fills in for VP when gone

Rodriguez Case

(1973) stated that education was not a fundamental right; a school-financing system based on local property taxes did not violate the 14th amendment because there was de facto segregation not de jure segregation

focus groups

small samples of people who are asked about candidates and issues in a discussion setting

mandatory spending

money that must be spent but Congress has no control over the spending rate; interest on national debt, social security,

Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

contract clause

clause in constitution intended to prevent state governments from altering contracts made between individuals; later used to prevent states from taking away property rights; now no longer significantly restrains state government in order to protect states' police powers

White House Office of Global Communications

political office; makes US look good in foreign countries; propaganda

fixed terms

the length of a term in office is specified, not indefinite; House=2; Senate=6, President=4

prior restraint

censorship imposed on a speech before it published in a newspaper; usually unconstitutional

restrictive covenants

provision in a property deed preventing sale to a person of a particular race or religion; loan discrimination; ruled unconstitutional

economic policies

laissez-faire, Keynesian, trickle-down, supply side, monetarism

Federal Register

the official journal of the US bureaucracy that informs the public of proposed rules, changes to rules, and new rules

turnout

The proportion of the voting-age public that votes, sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term's name.

issue activists

wish to push the parties in a particular direction on a single issue or a narrow range of issues.

life-cycle effects

as people age they vote more conservative

interest group

A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence for specific ends. They usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying

Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.

candidate-based system

politicians are nominated largely on the basis of their qualifications and personal appeal, not party loyalty

Senate- assigning members to committees

Dem- Steering Committee; Reps- Committee on Committees

US v. Leon

weakened Mapp v. Ohio; allowed a "good faith" exception to the exclusionary rule as long as the core values of Mapp v. Ohio were not violated

nonpublic forums

open to the public but are not public forums; must use facilities within a normal bound of conduct, may be excluded if assembly uses building for purposes which it was not intended; no right to interfere with programs or try to take over a building; eg: libraries, courthouses, prisons, schools, swimming pools, government offices

Zelman case

stated that vouchers were constitutional; did not break the establishment clause

commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

revolving door

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for government agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

political action committee (PAC)

the political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.

external political efficacy

the belief that one is effective when participating in politics; i.e. that the government will respond to one's demands

manifest opinion

A widely shared and consciously held view, like support for homeland security

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security

permissive federalism

implies that the states' share of power rests upon the permission and permissiveness of the national government

important senate committees

appropriations, armed services, finance, foreign relations

political predispositions

women vote more, more democratic; old people vote more, conservative, more educated, wealthier vote more

central clearance

reviews of all executive branch testimony, reports, and draft legislation by the OMB to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program

how president influences Congress

mandate of the people, state of the Union, threat of a veto

voter suppression

negative advertising discourages some voters who might support a candidate

affirmative action

programs designed to provide special help to people who have been disadvantaged because they belong to a certain group

our federalism

presumes that the power of the federal government is limited in favor of the broad powers reserved to the states

liberalism

belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity; regulated economy, help society

entitlement programs

programs that provide benefits to eligible citizens

beauty contest

a popularity vote during the primary; candidates are chosen but delegates are not

standing to sue

plaintiffs myst have sustained or be in immediate danger of sustaining a direct and personal injury (violation of a constitution or other legal right)

Grutter v. Bollinger

affirmative action case (lost) ; race could be used as a factor in admissions as long as there was no point system and race was not a major factor; upheld Bakke case

defendants

in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense

Cabinet

heads of their departments: loyal to departments over President

Executive Office of the President

informal advisers: loyal solely to the President; incl. Council of Economic Advisers, Office of Management and Budget, White House Office, and Office of Administration, Office of Faith Based Initiatives

Eighth

Amendment that says no excessive bail, no cruel or unusual punishment

salience

measures the extent to which people believe issues are relevant to them.

public opinion

The distribution of individual preferences for or evaluations of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population.

Duties of Federal Judiciary

US is a party, two or more states, state and citizens of a nother state, citizens of two or more states, citizens of the same state involving national issues

Roe v. Wade

established national abortion guidelines based on trimesters; 1st no state interference, 2nd state may regulate to protect health of mother; 3rd state may regulate to protect health of unborn child

canvass

Campaigners learn which issues matter to potential voters and which candidates these voters prefer by conducting interviews on the telephone or in person.

faction

A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.

Asian Americans

japanese= democrat; others= republican; higher education and income;

uncontrollable spending

portion of federal budget that is spent on programs that Congress and president are unwilling to cut; ex: Social Security

logrolling

voting to help a colleagues bill in exchange for a vote on another bill; reciprocity;

collective action

How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives, including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science, sociology, and economics.

Nineteenth

Amendment that started women's suffrage

popular consent (sovereignty)

The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs

new judicial federalism

the federal government should set minimum not maximum standards on the rights protected for each citizen; advocated by judicial restrainers

Majority/Minority leader

floor leaders and legislative strategists

pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

checks and balances

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate

grand jury

a group of jurors that vote on whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial showing that a crime was indeed committed; need a 12 to 23 vote to go to trial

movement

A large body of people interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing interest and who are willing to take action. They seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just policies.

Miranda v. Arizona

est. miranda warnings of counsel and silence for the accused; must be given before questioning; warren court's judicial activism for criminals

candidate activists

followers of a particular candidate who see the party as the means to elect their candidate

Second

Amendment that allows for a militia and the right to bear arms

sunshine laws

required government agencies to open their meetings to the public and the press

Federalists

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government

winner take all

a system in which the candidate with the most district votes in a state gets all of the delegate votes from that state

Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)

groups that independently investigate and report on government and corporate action relating to consumer interests

open shop

A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.

Miranda warning

Miranda v. Arizona; making sure that suspected criminals are brought before a magistrate and informed of their right to remain silent, right to an attorney

interested money

financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of an election and subsequently influencing policy

Skokie case

supreme court allowed the Nazi party to march through the predominantly Jewish section of a city in Illinois; had been previously prevented by the city; time, place, and manner regulations

Dickerson v. US

2000; court upheld the miranda decision; struck down a congressional act allowing voluntary confessions to be accepted before their miranda rights had been read; Rehnquist judicial restraint

bad tendency test

forbid speech that corrupts society or that encourages crime; test abandoned because it was too broad

Mapp v. Ohio

established the exclusionary rule; evidence illegally obtained cannot be used in court; Warren Court's judicial activism

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

stated that capital punishment was unconstitutional

direct democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly

Warren Court

the chief justice that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson in Brown v. Board of Education (1954); he was the first justice to help the civil rights movement, judicial activism

closed shop

A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.

fundamental rights

rights that are implicitly or explicitly guaranteed by the constitution; laws that interfere with constitutional rights are subject to strict scrutiny

class-action suit

when multiple plaintiffs band together and say that something is affecting large numbers of americans

Gratz v. Bollinger

affirmative action case; a point system for admission in which points were given for race was ruled unconstitutional; too much like a quota system; upheld Bakke case

take care clause

laws must be faithfully executed even if president disagrees--> president claiming inherent powers to faithfully protect the nation

Federalist No. 78

written by Alexander Hamilton; talks about the federal judiciary; judiciary must depend on other two branches to uphold its decisions

express powers

Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government

adversary system

a judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences

rational basis test

litigants must show that the law has no rational or legitimate government goals; up to litigants attacking the law to prove; Romer v. Evans upheld that Colorado could not prohibit laws that protected homosexuals from discrimination

distributive policy

programs that give benefits to all citizens; Social Security, education, national defense

Ninth

Amendment that says the enumeration of rights in the Constiturion shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people; just because it isn't in the Constitution, does not mean it isn't a right

free exercise clause

Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion; Santaria Case

Marbury v. Madison

ruled by John Marshall; Marbury wanted the Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his commission; ruled section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional; established Judicial Review

democracy

Government by the people with free and frequent elections

exclusionary rule

evidence obtained unconstitutionally or illegally must be excluded from a criminal trial; Mapp v. Ohio

consensus

When a substantial percentage of a sample agrees on an issue.

panel surveys

Interviewing the same sample at more than one point in time.

lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

based on the legal concept of stare decisis; disputes based on custom and tradition; no federal common law, therefore appeals to the federal courts become cases of equity

caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform

actual voting

voters elect delegates to go to the national convention to vote for a candidate

permanent Congress

the state of congress being permanent due to the lack of term-limits and the advantages of incumbency

general election

Elections in which voters elect officeholders.

writ of certiorari

a formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court; if a court has made a decision conflicting with precedent, if a court has come up witht a new question, if one court of appeals has mad e decision that conflits with another, inconsistencies between courts of different states, split decision by court of appeals

New Jersey Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally

Maine and Nebraska plan

a winner take all system that never the less gave the candidate with the most popular votes the extra two votes in the electoral college

a presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work (district courts)

national tide

focus on national rather than local issues; if there is a popular public view, it may skew the election in one direction

civil liberties

constitutionally protected freedoms of all persons against government restraint: the freedoms of conscience, religion, and expression

Gideon v. Wainwright

ordered states to provide lawyers for those unable to afford them; Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments; Warren Court's judicial activism

Slaughterhouse cases

the 5th and 14th amendments do not guarantee federal protection of individual rights of all citizens of the United States against discrimination by their own state governments; made a distinction between state citizenship and national citizenship

party identification

An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.

party identification

An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.

caucus

a meeting of local party members to discuss and choose party officials or candidates for public office; Iowa

candidate appeal

tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate

redistricting

redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census to accommodate population shifts and keep the districts as equal in population as possible

party unity score

percentage of members of a party who vote together on roll call votes in Congress on which a majortiy of the members of one party vote against a majority of the member of another party.

delegate

legislator who follows belief of people

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government generally.

closed primary

Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.

horse race

a focus on who is ahead in the primaries rather than substantive differences between candidates; more media attention to winning candidates, less time to issues

impeachment

Formal accusation by the lower house of a legislature against a public official, the first step in removal from office.

docket

list of potential cases that reach the supreme court

reapportionment

assigning congressional seats by Congress after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts

iron triangles

the alliance among congressional committees, interest groups, and federal departments/agencies

majority

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election

Senate leadership

VP, president pro tempore, majority leader, minority leader, whips

Office of Management and Budget

creates budget requests and seeks to make the bureaucracy better

Libertarian party

A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. They call for a free market system, expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization, and a foreign policy of nonintervention, free trade, and open immigration.

Sixth

Amendment that says criminal court procedures: speedy and public trial, informed of charges against

independent agencies

smaller and more focused than departments; mst report to the president

open rule

floor amendments may be made during debate

realigning election

An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.

Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government

egalitarian society

everyone should be able to earn a decent living

Barron v. Baltimore

1833; court ruled that Bill of Rights only applied to the national government, not the states; created dual citizenship

direct primary

Election in which voters choose party nominees

Third

Amendment that says no quartering of soldiers

deficit

the annual difference between revenue received and money spent

Inner Cabinet

Treasury, State, Justice, Defense

ethnicity

A social division based on national origin, religion, language, and often race.

selective exposure

people screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases

quid pro quo

Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.

de facto segregation

segregation occurring because of economic or social conditions or because of personal choice; unnecessary to force integration

sedition

defaming, criticizing, or advocating the overthrow of government; seditious libel is no longer punishable

gerrymandering

redrawing the legislative boundaries to benefit a party, incumbent, or group

eminent domain

power of government to take private property for public use; state and national governments are required to give just compensation; 5th amendment- first provision in the Bill of Rights (due to selective incorporation) regulating state as well as national gov

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

made capital punishment constitutional; overturned a previous decision which stated that capital punishment was unconstitutional

US v. Nixon

executive privilege does not work when president has committed a crime

corporate welfare

supported by taxes but rarely used by poor; ex: college loans, tax deductions

Boland Amendment

an act passed by congress that said the president could not support the Contras; Reagan ignored it during the Iran-Contra affair

presidential election

Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.

prosecutors

act on behalf of the public in choosing whether and how to pursue cases against defendants; the person who tries a case in front of a court

congressional-executive agreements

formal agreement between the US president and leaders of other nations but still requires approval by Congress

administrative discretion

authority given by congress to federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgement in implementing the laws

concurrent powers

Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.

procedural due process

how a law is applied, government must proceed by certain methods; limits how government may exercise power, laws may violate this if they are too vague; limits mostly the judicial and executive branch

types of economic interest groups

trade associations, labor unions, professional associations

Seventh

Amendment that says trial by jury in common law cases

precedents

a decision made by a higher court (court of appeals, Supreme Court) or by a previous court that is binding on all other federal courts; stare decisis

libertarianism

an ideology that cherishes individual liberties, insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, noniterventionist in foreign policy and an absence in moral, economic, and social life

includes such matters as who supports or opposes legislation and how strongly they feel about it.

social conservatives

an ultra-conservatism that focuses on morality and lifestyle; dislike abortion, same-sex marriages, and affirmative action; ex: Christian Right

Fourth

Amendment that says no unreasonable searches and seizures, warrants only with probable cause

environmental impact statements

must be filed by federal agencies for any project using federal funds to asses the potential effect of the new construction or development on the enviroment

issue networks

temporary alliances among loosely connected groups for a specific issue

honeymoon

Period at the beginning of a new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about six months.

intensity

how strongly people feel about their opinions.

party registration

The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote.

indictment

also, true bill; a formal written statement by a grand jury charging an individual with an offense

patronage

the dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party; "spoils system"

Annapolis Convention

A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention

political predisposition

A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior

nonprotected speech

lacks redeeming social value and is not essential to democratic deliberations and self-governance; eg: libel, obscenity, fighting words, commercial speech

rule

ticket to the floor of the House

Hatch Act

bans civil servants from running for elected office; may not solicit money within their organization

competitive federalism

views the national government, 50 states, and thousands of local governments as competing with each other over ways to put together packages of services and taxes

Judicial activism

interpret constitution to reflect current views; keep constitution changing with the times (contemporary); loose interpretation; allows discretion when interpreting laws; psychological, sociological, physiological factors; allows the federal/central power to make decisions that help the people; accepts more writs of certiorari and more cases

money spent by individuals or groups, not candidates, in order to elect or defeat a candidate for office

double jeopardy

trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; unconstitutional

Positions of President

commander in chief, diplomat in chief, administrator in chief,

Baker v. Carr

"one man, one vote," prohibited racial gerrymandering; ordered state legislative districs to be near equal in population as possible

White House Office

the personal staff of the President, incl the chief of staff, policy offices and political offices; incl. National Security Council

Lee Atwater

the Republican president maker (think Karl Rove); he made the Willie Horton commercial for George Bush Sr. against Dukakis

trade association

businesses with similar interests band together in order to push their ideas; eg: regulation issues

franking privilege

the privilege of incumbents of sending mail free to the electorate

Twenty First

Amendment that repealed prohibition; only amendment ratified through state special conventions

nationalism

a consciousness of the nation-state and belonging to it.

cross-cutting cleavages

Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different; ex: religion

courts of appeal

ta court with appellate jurisdiciton that hears appeals from the district courts; 13 total, 2 in Washington DC, California is in 9, the biggest

obscenity

Miller v California; quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value

A PAC formed by an office holder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.

Twenty Second

Amendment that limits the number of presidential terms to two

proportional representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislature seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

amicus curiae

"friend of the court," a brief written by interested parties not directly involved in the case in order to present arguments in additoin to those presented by the immediate parties of the case

vouchers

money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice

whips

assistant floor leaders, informp party leaders of mood in House, keep head count for important votes, persuade members to vote with party

judicial review

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution

full faith and credit clause

Clause in the Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid

Departments

largest organization in the government with the largest mission; act as umbrellas over agencies

media consultants

campaign professionals who help candidates with media relations, advertising, and opinion polls

majority rule

governance according to the opinions of the majority; determined by regularly held elections

open seats

a seat that does not have an incumbent due to redistricting or retirement; very rare

single member districts

an electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official (not voting for more than one person for any position)

special election

Election in which voters replace members of the House of Representatives who have died or left office.

US v. Leon

weakened Mapp v. Ohio; allowed a "good faith" exception to the exclusionary rule as long as the core values of Mapp v. Ohio were not violated

national party convention

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.

interstate compact

An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.

cases of equity

those cases that cannot be resolved by common law; judges may be asked to issue injunctions or award damages

prospective issue voting

Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.

riders (nongermane)

may be added by senate; extra provisions in order to gain support or prevent it

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

polarized

When two opposing sides feel intensely about an issue.

gender gap

The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and women.

Senior Executive Service

a flexible mobile corps of senior career executives who work closely with presidential appointees to manage government

gross domestic product (GDP)

The total output of all economic activity in the nation, including goods and services.

due process clause

no person shall be deprived by a STATE of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; Fourteenth Amendment

coattail effect

boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ticket

discharge petitions

if signed by a majority in House, bill may bypass committee and go to floor; rescue tool

Brown v. Board (1954)

school segregation was unconstitutional; overturned Plessy v. Ferguson; Warren's court judicial activism, unanimous decision so that no one could dispute

John Marshall

created the precedent of judicial review; ruled on many early decisions that gave the federal government more power, especially the supreme court

Clinton's well fare reform

turned welfare over to states; public assistance is limited, must be searching for a job

pleading guilty to a lesser crime in order to avoid standing trial for a more serious one; once someone pleads guilty they have no control over their sentence

decentralists

People who favor state or local action rather than national action

Lemon v Kurtzman (aka Lemon case)

1) law must have a secular legislative purpose, 2) law must neither advance nor inhibit religion, 3) must avoid "excessive government entanglement" with religion

preemption

The right of a federal law or regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.

recess appointments

appointments to federal judgeships (including to the supreme court) that are made when the Senate is in recess so the Senate cannot approve or deny them, they may stay in their positions until the Senate tells them to step down

War Powers Resolution 1974

if president commits troops Congress must be told w/in 48 hours and must approve w/in 60 days

mandate

because president was elected by nation, and he has wide public support; "political capital"

Federalist No. 10

written by James Madison; inevitability of factions; need for a federal govt. to combat (federalism, division of powers)

North American Free Trade Agreement

agreement between US, Canada, and Mexico; largest free trade zone in the world; signed by Bush Sr in 1992

mass media

the means of communication that reach the public

Shared values

liberty, equality, individualism, respect for the common person, democratic consensus, justice and the rule of law, patriotism, optimism, individualism

The first governing document of the confederated states, drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by teh rpesent Constitution in 1789

substantive information

includes information like the impact of proposed laws

establishment clause

congress is prohibited form passing laws respecting the establishment of religion; this was meant to prevent government support of religion

Important house committees

appropriations, rules, ways and means, commerce

dual citizenship

citizenship in more than one country, usu. due to former country not giving a right to expatriation

US v. Curtiss-Wright

president given wide abilities for foreign policy

commercial speech

advertisements and commercials; not very protected

heightened scrutiny test

in order to pass a law the government must show that its classification serves "important governmental objectives;" (classifications of gender); unconstitutional to to protect a group because they are "innately inferior"

Plessy v. Ferguson

allowed segregation, "separate but equal"

socioeconomic status (SES)

A division of population based on occupation, income, and education.

nonpartisan election

A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.

dual federalism

Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers to the national government and leaving the rest to sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere.

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

inherent powers

The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government

oversight

responsibility to question executive branch officials to see whether agencies are complying with the wishes of Congress

public choice

Synonymous with "collective action," it specifically studies how government officials, politicians, and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.

Miller v. California

established guidelines for obscenity; lacks serious redeeming value

theocracy

Government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance

free rider

An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.

policy offices

advise the president on domestic and international issues

direct primary

Election in which voters choose party nominees

random sampling

In this type of sample, every individual has a known and random chance of being selected

party regulars

place the party first; value winning elections and understand that compromise and moderation may be necessary to reach the objective; realize it is important to keep the party together.

House- assigning members to committees

Dem- Steering and Policy Committee; Reps- Committee on Committees

McCulloch v. Maryland

John Marshall ruled that a state could not tax the Bank of the US; commerce clause, necessary and proper, "the power to tax involves the power to destroy"

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act

congress regains control of the budget; creates the congressional budget office, required president to submit requests for recissions of appropriations

special/select committees

address temporary priorities of Congress, conduct investigations

National Bonus Plan

a reform plan that would give the winner of the popular vote 102 electoral votes, in order to secure that the popular candidate did win

Keynesian economics

(fiscal policy) Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.

speech and debate clause

Congress cannot be sued for slander when in session

primary election

Election in which voters determine party nominees.

UAW v. Johnson Controls

allowed women to work in a battery factory even though there was a chance that working there would render them infertile

a statement written when a president signs a bill into law; used to change the interpretation of the law

lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches

cooperative federalism

stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.

executive agreement

a formal agreement between the US president and the leaders of other nations; does not require senate approval; Mexico smart border, NAFTA

fiscal policy

attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending for programs

Australian ballot

A secret ballot printed by the state

clear and present danger test

started by Schenck case; government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts; to shout "Fire" falsely in a crowded theater

conference committee

also called the third house of congress; reconciles the passed versions of bils from both houses and then sends a nonamendable version back to both houses for passage

stare decisis

the rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as bingind on judges whenever the same question is presented; Supreme Court overturns previous decisions very rarely and only with great cause

ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic grou

Newdow case

although a lower court decided that the phrase "under god" was unconstitutional based on the separation of church and state, the supreme court ruled that this guy did not have legal standing to bring the case to court because he did not have custody of the daughter

bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature

blanket primary

Used to be held in Washington and California -- all voters could vote for any candidate, regardless of party.

naturalization

a legal act giving citizenship to an alien

laissez-faire economics

Theory that opposed governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.

fighting words

words that by their very nature inflict injury on those to whom they are addressed or incited them to acts of violence; very hard to prove

hold

way of preventing legislation by delaying a bill hearing, force compromise; (asking for more time for a personal reason)

bundling

A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2,000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a "bundle," thus increasing the PAC's influence.

joint committee

members forom both House and Senate study an issue of interest, oversee congressional support agencies

Tenth

Amendment that says powers not delegated to the US nor prohibited to the States are retained by the states

tests used for establishment clause

Lemon test, endorsement test, non-preferential test

iron triangle

congressional committees, interest groups, media

direct popular election

abolishing the electoral college and basing the presidency solely on the popular vote

majority-minority districts

when states redraw district lines in order to create districts in which minority groups make up the majority of the population; unconstitutional to make race the main factor when redrawing district lines upheld in Shaw v. Reno

Federal Register

An official document, published every weekday, which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.

concurring opinion

an opinion that agrees with the majority opinion but for different reasons

Constitutional Convention

The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States

Gideon v. Wainwright

ordered states to provide lawyers for those unable to afford them; Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments; Warren Court's judicial activism

Seventeenth

Amendment that started direct election of senators, initiative, referendum, and recall

closed rule

no floor amendments may be made, usually given to prevent a bill from passing

reinforcing cleavages

Divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous or similar; ex: social class, income,

Roberts Court

the current chief justice who is very conservative

impoundment

Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated

Santeria Case

prohibited a law in Florida banning animal sacrifice; upheld the free exercise clause in the First Amendment

US v. Lopez

court ruled that gun-free school zone act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce; Congress must defer to states

The Federalist

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1787 and 1788.

Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government, the actions of the federal government prevail.

Congressional Record

a publication of all congressional proceedings

substantive due process

what the government can do; government should not be allowed to do certain things; mostly limits the legislative branch; helped economic regulation

continuing resolutions

proclamations extending authority for federal spending for a specified amount

selective perception

people see and hear what they want to in media messages

advantages of incumbency

gerrymandered districts, franking privileges, media and name recognition, PAC and interest group money, case work

district trial courts

the lowest level of federal courts; 97 districts across the country

original jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case in the "first instance"

Gitlow v. New York

established selective incorporation of the Bill of rights; states cannot deny freedom of speech; protected through the 14th amendment

an economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means and production of exchange

popular sovereignty

ultimate power resides in the people; government serves the people

natural rights

aka human rights; everyone has an equal right to protection against arbitrary treatment and an equal right to the liberties in the Bill of Rights; John Locke,

Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction

cases that involve ambassadors, other public ministers, other diplomats, cases that involve a state or states as a party

literacy tests

literacy requirement (understanding of the constitution) as a condition of voting

Tinker v. Des Moines

students wore black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War; student's rights are not "shed at the schoolhouse gates," symbolic speech allowed

name recognition

voters vote with familiar incumbents

centralists

People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels

factors that affect voting

race, ethnicity, wealth, income, gender, religion, education

strict scrutiny test

in order to prove a law constitutional there must be a "compelling government interest" to justify a classification (of people based on race, etc.) and no less restrictive way to accomplish the purpose; also tests laws that interfere with fundamental rights

redistributive policy

programs that take benefits from some (taxes) and give to others; medicaid, food stamps

political offices

help president manage image, get reelected

Buckley v. Valeo

this SC decision stated that spending money was a form of symbolic speech and that therefore individual expenditures could not be limited

part-time citizens

Participate selectively in elections; are not greatly interested in politics and government, pay only minimal attention to the news, rarely discuss candidates or elections with others.

attentive public

Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully

recall

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.

progressive tax

tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay a larger percent of their income